Twenty different Pueblos in New Mexico and Arizona are crunched into these two pages! They are the Acoma, Cochiti, Hopi, Isleta, Jemez, Laguna, Nambe, Picuris, Pojoaque, Sandia, San Felipe, San Ildefonso, San Juan, Santa Ana, Santa Clara, Santo Domingo, Taos, Tesuque, Zia, and Zuni. When the Spanish invaded the Southwest in the 1500s, they called these groups pueblos, the Spanish word for towns. Although the Pueblo people live in two different states and speak different languages, the name Pueblo stuck and they all get grouped together.

    Like the Pueblo peoples, the lands are different, too. Some communities like the Nambe (People of the Round Earth) Pueblo have waterfalls, mountains, and lakes, while the Santa Ana Pueblo is dry and flat.

    The Cochiti Pueblo has a beautiful lake marina where people can play all kinds of water sports. Its golf course is rated one of the best. Cochitis, like many other Pueblo peoples, are famous for their pottery. Artist Helen Cordero was the first to design the popular storyteller figure, a clay sculpture that shows a grandfather sitting with many children while he tells his story to them.

    People earn a living at farming, ranching, and pinon nut harvesting. Some are scientists, lawyers, engineers, or tribal government workers. The Laguna Pueblo operates a communication products factory. The Pojoaque (Water Drinking Place) Pueblo has a race track. Pueblo people also make and sell pottery, baskets, and their world-famous silver jewelry, too. Artwork is often a family project, with everyone helping out.

    The Pueblo peoples have been known throughout history as great farmers. In the San Juan Pueblo are the Ohkay T'owa gardens, which means "the People of San Juan's" gardens. This is an agricultural cooperative where people get together to raise native foods like corn, beans, squash, and melons. A "living classroom" teaches traditional and modern farming methods that protect the environment and work in harmony with nature. Running is also a Pueblo tradition—many Pueblo people have set records in track and field events.

    Some Pueblo communities invite the public to their ceremonies and feast days. People who attend are asked to be silent and respectful.

More facts about Pueblos

Reservations/Communities: 19 Pueblos in New Mexico; one Pueblo in Arizona

Total population: 74,085

Some people to learn about:
Simon Ortiz [1941-], Acoma poet
Beverly R. Singer [1954-], Santa Clara filmmaker, educator
Verna Williamson-Teller [1951 - ], Isleta tribal leader

Neighbors: Apaches, Havasupais, Navajos

Web links: 
The official page for all 19 of the Pueblos.